Look bluntly, I am a little bit racist. We all are, to be honest. Drediock is correct. The 'red tails' were in truth that little bit better than the average pilot of WW2. It is quite arguable that the very prejudice that kept them out of the war for so long prepared them better when the time came. If that means anything, it means they were not better or worse than anyone else. Colour is irelevant. That doesn't mean what they did to get themselves into the cockpit of a P51 is any less impressive than it is. Given the times they lived in and the difficultly in getting into a fighter cockpit, white or black. They had to be good. They were good. It wasn't acknowledged much at the time. Finally now it is.
But this I don't believe.
the idea that because they were black, they had more to prove and thus did better. Is bunk.
From my own personal experience. I know you will try harder to make a point. I don't expect you to understand. But sometimes, it is not necessary to prove it to others, but simply yourself. Sometimes racism or prejudice works both ways. You try harder or fight harder to make the point. 'I am better than you think I am' I am better than I think
I am .
Shuckins may be correct, indeed probably is correct. But the 'red tails' had a point to make. Their job was to protect bombers. To do otherwise was to invite criticism. They didn't have the flexibility of other groups. They would be judged by a special standard and they knew it.
Since then I hope we have moved on. Colour is irrelevant in the context of combat.
Training, motivation and all the rest is what's important. Anyone who has served in a military unit knows that.
